Pintail Whydahs in New Zealand

[finchfetish]

Does anyone know whether it is possible to purchase Pintail Whydahs in New Zealand or if they are even suited to the climate here?

[mickp]

if you have pintail whydah's you must also have st helenas.
pintails dont incubate their own eggs or raise the young.
they have to be the most attractive parasite there is though

[finchfetish]

If I'm not breeding I can just have them on their own though, can't I? If I have other species in the aviary (gouldians, fire finches etc) will they attack/be attacked?

[monotwine]

Mmm I cannot speak from experience keeping them, perhaps someone else can.

Here the Pintail Whydah are wild and regular garden visitors. All I can say from seeing their wild antics is that they are very agressive to all other species of birds in their territory. Off breeding season I think it would be ok to have them in a mixed aviary possibly if it were large enough, but during breeding season I think they would need to be seperated. I think regardless of whether you breed them or not the natural tendancy to want to breed and get territory will kick in.

[lonchura_boi]

If I'm not breeding I can just have them on their own though, can't I? If I have other species in the aviary (gouldians, fire finches etc) will they attack/be attacked?

they are aggressive in aviaries and if you dont intend breeding them, best kept to an aviary on their own.

if you intend breeding them, they are not tied to one specific host unlike many other whydahs. they will require a large, aviary, preferably long. you will need several males, and several females. prefrably more males though as compatition will stimulate them to display more vigerously and this will impress the females more, making mating more likely.
a selection of breeding host species, waxbills if you can get them, orange cheek, red eared and st-helena. they are also known to use zebras, bronze-wing mannikins and cuban finches as hosts.

[finchfetish]

Why is it that if I am breeding, it is safe, even neccesary, to have another species in the cage, however if I am not breeding, it is not advised? Also, as well as Pintails, are Paradise Whydahs also available in New Zealand?

[lonchura_boi]

Why is it that if I am breeding, it is safe, even neccesary, to have another species in the cage, however if I am not breeding, it is not advised? Also, as well as Pintails, are Paradise Whydahs also available in New Zealand?

the reason you need other species present for breeding is that whydahs are parasitic breeders, they do not naturaly raise their own young and will leave their eggs in the nests of other species. unlike a cuckoo however, the young will be raised as part of the host species brood, it does not eject the other eggs/young. if you are not breeding, its not advisable to have other speices as they are a naturaly very aggressive species, and will bully other species in a confined space